Wheel-axle.



`No.31681,!20. Patented Aug. 20, 190|.

` w.` HERGER.

WHEEL AXLE.

` (Application Bled Nov. 80, 1906.)

W/7`NESSES: l /NVENTOH www "www OHNE VSV UNITED STATES ATnNT rrrcn.

WILLIAM HOERGER, OF FARIBAULT, MINNESOTA.

WH EELAXLE.

SEECIFICATION forming part of LettersPatent No. 681,120, dated August 20, 1901.`

v Application led November 30,1900. Serial No. 38,209. (No model.)

l To cir/ZZ whom, it may concer-7o.'

Be it known that I, WILLIAM I-IOERGER, resided at Faribault, in the county of Rice and State of Minnesota, have invented certain i like perarnbulators "without the use of the common axle-nut. y A p My invention in its generic nature comprehends a` threadless axle-spindle, a detent adapted to be iixedly secured thereon, and a key device adapted to automatically interlock with the said detent when the wheel is slid upon the spindle and hold the wheel from sliding off said spindle.

i In its more complete nature my invention embodies 'certain details of construction and peculiar combinations of parts, all of which will hereinafter be fully described, and par- `ticularly pointed out in the appended claims,

reference being had to the accompanying Figure l is a View illustrating my invention as in use. Fig. 2 is alongitudnal view of one end of the axle, taken substantially on f y line 2 2 of Fig. 4. Fig. 3 is a similarview illustrating the manner in which the key en- Fig. 7 illustrates the detent and that of the axle upon which it is secured.

Referring now to the accompanying drawings, in which like numerals indicate like parts in all the gures, l designates the wheel,

\ which isof the ordinary construction, it havl y `ing the usual straightway hub 2, formed at V 45 l best shown in Fig. 2.

eachend with the usual annular rim 2, as

3 designates the axle,\one end of which is reduced, as usual, to form the spindle 3a,

which in my construction is, however, made slightly shorter than the length of the spindle-fitting hub 2 and without the threaded or common nut-receiving end. At the merging of the spindle 3 and the axle 3 proper said axle has a shoulder 3b to engage the end 2c of the hub and prevent forward thrust or binding of the spindle with the hub. One face (preferably the upper) of the axle-spindle is flattened, as indicated by 3, and the said attened part 3 merges with an upwardly-inclined surface 3d, that terminates with the top 3 of the axle. (See Figs. 2 and 3.)

4 designates the detent-holding member, which consists of a liat spring-metal plate detachably held upon the upper face of the axle at a suitable point adjacent the spindle end by the bolt 5 and nut 5, devices that pass through the axle, as shown. The member 4 is of such length and so disposed relatively to the spindle that its outer end will project under the adjacent rim 2, the purpose of which will presently appear. The tension of the spring-plate 5 is such as to normally force its outer end down against the axle, and the said outer end 4 curves upward to facilitate the automatic interlocking of the key, presently described, therewith when the Wheel and the key are slid onto the spindle, as indicated in Fig. 3. The end 4a has a slot 4b, and at a point near the end 4a the plate has lateral ears or lift portions 4c to facilitate the raising of the spring-plate when it is desired to disengage said platefrom the key, as will presently be explained.

designates the key which acts as the substitute for the ordinary nut. This key consists of a shank having a length somewhat greater than that of the wheel-hub. The inner end of the shank terminates in a turnedup locking-lip 6a for engaging the slotted end 9o together with the key 6, is slipped on the spin- Ioo dle, and as the end 6a of the key engages the end of spring-plate 4 sufficient end pressure is applied to the wheel and the key 6 to cause the key to lift the end of plate 4 and its end 6a to interlock with plate 4, sufficient play under the annular hub-rim 2a being provided to allow for such automatic interlocking. Wh'en the key is thus interlocked with the plate 4, the Wheel will be securely held on the spindle from endwise movement and at 4 the same time held to rotate freely Without any increase of friction of the several parts.

The cap member 6b not alone acts the same l as an ordinary nut, but also as a dust-guard to keep out dirt and sand from the spindlebearing. By arranging the tWo members 4 and 6 so that their interlocking points come in a plane inside the inner run of the hub dani larger-sized vehicles, if desired.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. As an improvement in vehicle-axles, the combination With the Wheel-hub and the axle, said axle having a threadless spindle, said spindle having a longitudinally-extending surface in a plane inside of its bearing-surface, and a detent held upon the axle having its locking portion adjacent the inner end of the spindle, and a key insertible through the Wheel-hub from the front end and to engage the longitudinal seat in the spindle, whereby to lie in a plane inside the bearing-surface of the spindle, said key having its outer end formed with a member adapted to overlap the outer hub and spindle ends, and its inner end formed to automatically interlock with the esina detenton the axle, all being arranged substantially as .shown and for the purposes described.

2. The combination With the Wheel and the axle, said axle having a spindle end of less length than the hub and non-threaded; of a detent detachably held on` the axle with its locking end held adjacent the inner end of the axle-spindle and a key insertible through the hub, having its outer end formed to project over the outer end of the Wheel-hub, and its inner end constructed to automatically engage and interlock with the locking end of the detent, substantially in the manner shown and described.

3. The combination with the Wheel-hub and the axle, said axle having a spindle formed with a longitudinally-extending iiat key-receiving portion; of a fiat spring member 4, said member having its inner end turned up and slotted, and the key 6, having a pendent cap member 6b, and an upturned lockingflange, all being arranged substantially as shown and described.

4. As an improvement in vehicle-Wheels, the combination with the Wheel having its hub provided on the inner end with an out- Wardly-extending annular rim; of the axle 3, having a spindle 3, provided with a flat surface3c, said axle having an inclined surface 3d, merging with the surface 3c; of the springplate 4, detachably held on the axle with its free end resting on the inclined axle-surface 3d, 4said free end terminating in a slotted upturned lip 4a, and the key 6, adapted to seat in the axle-spindle surface 3, said key having a lip 6b, to interlock with the lip 4, and a cap-plate 6a, the interlocking members 4a and 6b, being disposed in a plane under the hub-rim, all being arranged substantially as shown and described.

WILLIAM HOERGER. Witnesses:

S. F. DONALDSON, H. W. TUTTLE. 

